Some quilt designs arrive after months of sketching, revising, and second-guessing.
And then there are the rare ones that seem to walk out of your imagination and onto paper exactly as you pictured them.
Near & Deer was one of those quilts.
When I was designing my Winter Haven fabric collection (read about the fabric line here!), I kept coming back to the same image in my mind: a quiet winter forest, birch trees stretching into the distance, snow-covered ground, and a deer pausing for just a moment as if she knows she’s part of a story.
That peaceful woodland scene became the inspiration for both the fabric collection and this pattern.
A Storybook Scene in Quilt Form
Near & Deer creates a whimsical woodland landscape featuring a doe (or fawn!) standing among a grove of birch trees while bright cardinals add little pops of color throughout the design. The result feels cozy, peaceful, and just a little magical.
I love quilts that tell a story, and this one feels like stepping into a magic forest.
The cardinals were one of my favorite details to include. Against the soft winter palette, they bring life and movement to the quilt and help guide your eye through the scene. They’re small details, but they make such a difference (and they are just so gosh darn cute with their little “masks”!).
I felt myself making littler personalities for these guys as I designed too – one is really nosy, one is tired, and another is just plain chilly! Can you tell who is who?!
Designed for Winter Haven… But Perfect Beyond It
Of course, Near & Deer was designed specifically with Winter Haven in mind.
The woodland reds, pine greens, twilight blues, and cozy neutrals in the collection create the perfect backdrop for a peaceful forest scene. The fabrics feature many of the same woodland elements that inspired the quilt itself—deer, birds, mushrooms, and winter foliage—which makes
the pattern feel right at home with the collection. But I don’t want you to feel limited to using Winter Haven fabrics…the best part of my job is seeing what YOUR take is on my work.
I’ve already started imagining versions in autumn colors, spring greens, or even a more modern neutral palette. The woodland scene remains charming no matter what fabrics you choose.
Why I Love This Pattern
One of my favorite things about quilting is creating something that feels meaningful.
Near & Deer isn’t just a quilt with a deer on it.
It’s about quiet moments.
It’s about slowing down enough to notice the beauty around us.
It’s about those peaceful winter walks where the world seems to pause for a moment and everything feels calm.
When I look at this quilt, I don’t just see fabric and piecing. I see the feeling that inspired the entire Winter Haven collection—the stillness, wonder, and comfort of winter woods.
Bringing Near & Deer to Life
Before I wrap up this post, I had to show off the Big Stitch Binding on this one – look at these tiny “bird feet” that border the quilt – can you even handle it!?
Seeing this quilt stitched up in Winter Haven fabrics was one of those moments where I couldn’t stop smiling.
As designers, we spend so much time imagining how things will look when they’re finished. Sometimes the final result surprises us. Sometimes it challenges us. And sometimes it turns out exactly as we’d hoped.
This quilt was one of those rare moments.
Whether you sew it in Winter Haven fabrics, pull from your stash, or create a completely different woodland color story, I hope this pattern brings a little bit of wonder to your sewing room.
Ready to bring this woodland scene to life?
Near & Deer is available now in my shop. Grab your copy today and start stitching your own peaceful winter forest—complete with birch trees, bright cardinals, and a curious deer waiting among the trees.
One Pattern, A Million Different Stories
I know I mentioned different fabrics several times in this post and I also know it can be SO HARD to imagine that. Thanks to my fabulous pattern testers, I have a few different versions to show you today that I think just *shine*
I love Kim’s take on this quilt (also, the shot hanging on the fence just really takes the cake!)
Gretchen’s use of ombre fabrics blew me away!
I love the saturation of the background against the more neutral trees and deer- it really works.
Let me just take one moment to thank all of my pattern testers – you guys are simply the best!
If you make Near & Deer, I’d love to see it! You might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter!
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